diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c b/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c
index d735b9dd4..fd466d42f 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	gchar				*vendor_id;
 	gchar				*homepage;
 	gchar				*plugin;
+	gchar				*protocol;
 	gchar				*version;
 	gchar				*version_lowest;
 	gchar				*version_bootloader;
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ enum {
 	PROP_0,
 	PROP_VERSION_FORMAT,
 	PROP_FLAGS,
+	PROP_PROTOCOL,
 	PROP_LAST
 };
 
@@ -844,6 +846,42 @@ fwupd_device_set_plugin (FwupdDevice *device, const gchar *plugin)
 	priv->plugin = g_strdup (plugin);
 }
 
+/**
+ * fwupd_device_get_protocol:
+ * @device: A #FwupdDevice
+ *
+ * Gets the protocol that the device uses for updating.
+ *
+ * Returns: the protocol name, or %NULL if unset
+ *
+ * Since: 1.3.6
+ **/
+const gchar *
+fwupd_device_get_protocol (FwupdDevice *device)
+{
+	FwupdDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FWUPD_IS_DEVICE (device), NULL);
+	return priv->protocol;
+}
+
+/**
+ * fwupd_device_set_protocol:
+ * @device: A #FwupdDevice
+ * @protocol: the protocol name, e.g. `com.hughski.colorhug`
+ *
+ * Sets the protocol that is used to update the device.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.3.6
+ **/
+void
+fwupd_device_set_protocol (FwupdDevice *device, const gchar *protocol)
+{
+	FwupdDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	g_return_if_fail (FWUPD_IS_DEVICE (device));
+	g_free (priv->protocol);
+	priv->protocol = g_strdup (protocol);
+}
+
 /**
  * fwupd_device_get_flags:
  * @device: A #FwupdDevice
@@ -1061,6 +1099,8 @@ fwupd_device_incorporate (FwupdDevice *self, FwupdDevice *donor)
 		fwupd_device_set_vendor_id (self, priv_donor->vendor_id);
 	if (priv->plugin == NULL)
 		fwupd_device_set_plugin (self, priv_donor->plugin);
+	if (priv->protocol == NULL)
+		fwupd_device_set_protocol (self, priv_donor->protocol);
 	if (priv->update_error == NULL)
 		fwupd_device_set_update_error (self, priv_donor->update_error);
 	if (priv->update_message == NULL)
@@ -1197,6 +1237,11 @@ fwupd_device_to_variant_full (FwupdDevice *device, FwupdDeviceFlags flags)
 				       FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_PLUGIN,
 				       g_variant_new_string (priv->plugin));
 	}
+	if (priv->protocol != NULL) {
+		g_variant_builder_add (&builder, "{sv}",
+				       FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_PROTOCOL,
+				       g_variant_new_string (priv->protocol));
+	}
 	if (priv->version != NULL) {
 		g_variant_builder_add (&builder, "{sv}",
 				       FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_VERSION,
@@ -1379,6 +1424,10 @@ fwupd_device_from_key_value (FwupdDevice *device, const gchar *key, GVariant *va
 		fwupd_device_set_plugin (device, g_variant_get_string (value, NULL));
 		return;
 	}
+	if (g_strcmp0 (key, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_PROTOCOL) == 0) {
+		fwupd_device_set_protocol (device, g_variant_get_string (value, NULL));
+		return;
+	}
 	if (g_strcmp0 (key, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_VERSION) == 0) {
 		fwupd_device_set_version (device, g_variant_get_string (value, NULL));
 		return;
@@ -1731,6 +1780,7 @@ fwupd_device_to_json (FwupdDevice *device, JsonBuilder *builder)
 	fwupd_device_json_add_string (builder, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_SUMMARY, priv->summary);
 	fwupd_device_json_add_string (builder, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_DESCRIPTION, priv->description);
 	fwupd_device_json_add_string (builder, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_PLUGIN, priv->plugin);
+	fwupd_device_json_add_string (builder, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_PROTOCOL, priv->protocol);
 	if (priv->flags != FWUPD_DEVICE_FLAG_NONE) {
 		json_builder_set_member_name (builder, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_FLAGS);
 		json_builder_begin_array (builder);
@@ -1843,6 +1893,7 @@ fwupd_device_to_string (FwupdDevice *device)
 	fwupd_pad_kv_str (str, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_SUMMARY, priv->summary);
 	fwupd_pad_kv_str (str, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_DESCRIPTION, priv->description);
 	fwupd_pad_kv_str (str, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_PLUGIN, priv->plugin);
+	fwupd_pad_kv_str (str, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_PROTOCOL, priv->protocol);
 	fwupd_pad_kv_dfl (str, FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_FLAGS, priv->flags);
 	for (guint i = 0; i < priv->checksums->len; i++) {
 		const gchar *checksum = g_ptr_array_index (priv->checksums, i);
@@ -1897,6 +1948,9 @@ fwupd_device_get_property (GObject *object, guint prop_id,
 	case PROP_FLAGS:
 		g_value_set_uint64 (value, priv->flags);
 		break;
+	case PROP_PROTOCOL:
+		g_value_set_string (value, priv->protocol);
+		break;
 	default:
 		G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
 		break;
@@ -1915,6 +1969,9 @@ fwupd_device_set_property (GObject *object, guint prop_id,
 	case PROP_FLAGS:
 		fwupd_device_set_flags (self, g_value_get_uint64 (value));
 		break;
+	case PROP_PROTOCOL:
+		fwupd_device_set_protocol (self, g_value_get_string (value));
+		break;
 	default:
 		G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
 		break;
@@ -1946,6 +2003,11 @@ fwupd_device_class_init (FwupdDeviceClass *klass)
 				     G_PARAM_READWRITE |
 				     G_PARAM_STATIC_NAME);
 	g_object_class_install_property (object_class, PROP_FLAGS, pspec);
+
+	pspec = g_param_spec_string ("protocol", NULL, NULL, NULL,
+				     G_PARAM_READWRITE |
+				     G_PARAM_STATIC_NAME);
+	g_object_class_install_property (object_class, PROP_PROTOCOL, pspec);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -1976,6 +2038,7 @@ fwupd_device_finalize (GObject *object)
 	g_free (priv->vendor);
 	g_free (priv->vendor_id);
 	g_free (priv->plugin);
+	g_free (priv->protocol);
 	g_free (priv->update_error);
 	g_free (priv->update_message);
 	g_free (priv->version);
diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-device.h b/libfwupd/fwupd-device.h
index 5270b6149..ea1e12564 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-device.h
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-device.h
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ void		 fwupd_device_add_checksum		(FwupdDevice	*device,
 const gchar	*fwupd_device_get_plugin		(FwupdDevice	*device);
 void		 fwupd_device_set_plugin		(FwupdDevice	*device,
 							 const gchar	*plugin);
+const gchar	*fwupd_device_get_protocol		(FwupdDevice	*device);
+void		 fwupd_device_set_protocol		(FwupdDevice	*device,
+							 const gchar	*protocol);
 const gchar	*fwupd_device_get_vendor		(FwupdDevice	*device);
 void		 fwupd_device_set_vendor		(FwupdDevice	*device,
 							 const gchar	*vendor);
diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-enums-private.h b/libfwupd/fwupd-enums-private.h
index 6463849c8..242ac0fc5 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-enums-private.h
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-enums-private.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ G_BEGIN_DECLS
 #define FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_NAME			"Name"		/* s */
 #define FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_NAME_VARIANT_SUFFIX	"NameVariantSuffix"	/* s */
 #define FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_PLUGIN			"Plugin"	/* s */
+#define FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_PROTOCOL		"Protocol"	/* s */
 #define FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_RELEASE		"Release"	/* a{sv} */
 #define FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_REMOTE_ID		"RemoteId"	/* s */
 #define FWUPD_RESULT_KEY_SERIAL			"Serial"	/* s */
diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd.map b/libfwupd/fwupd.map
index 2fb4f670c..dea3b6ac3 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd.map
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd.map
@@ -405,3 +405,10 @@ LIBFWUPD_1.3.4 {
     fwupd_client_get_daemon_interactive;
   local: *;
 } LIBFWUPD_1.3.3;
+
+LIBFWUPD_1.3.6 {
+  global:
+    fwupd_device_get_protocol;
+    fwupd_device_set_protocol;
+  local: *;
+} LIBFWUPD_1.3.4;
diff --git a/libfwupdplugin/fu-device.c b/libfwupdplugin/fu-device.c
index 36469cc4e..0f729a90e 100644
--- a/libfwupdplugin/fu-device.c
+++ b/libfwupdplugin/fu-device.c
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ typedef struct {
 	gchar				*equivalent_id;
 	gchar				*physical_id;
 	gchar				*logical_id;
-	gchar				*protocol;
 	FuDevice			*alternate;
 	FuDevice			*parent;	/* noref */
 	FuQuirks			*quirks;
@@ -66,7 +65,6 @@ enum {
 	PROP_PROGRESS,
 	PROP_PHYSICAL_ID,
 	PROP_LOGICAL_ID,
-	PROP_PROTOCOL,
 	PROP_QUIRKS,
 	PROP_PARENT,
 	PROP_LAST
@@ -94,9 +92,6 @@ fu_device_get_property (GObject *object, guint prop_id,
 	case PROP_LOGICAL_ID:
 		g_value_set_string (value, priv->logical_id);
 		break;
-	case PROP_PROTOCOL:
-		g_value_set_string (value, priv->protocol);
-		break;
 	case PROP_QUIRKS:
 		g_value_set_object (value, priv->quirks);
 		break;
@@ -128,9 +123,6 @@ fu_device_set_property (GObject *object, guint prop_id,
 	case PROP_LOGICAL_ID:
 		fu_device_set_logical_id (self, g_value_get_string (value));
 		break;
-	case PROP_PROTOCOL:
-		fu_device_set_protocol (self, g_value_get_string (value));
-		break;
 	case PROP_QUIRKS:
 		fu_device_set_quirks (self, g_value_get_object (value));
 		break;
@@ -1493,9 +1485,8 @@ fu_device_set_logical_id (FuDevice *self, const gchar *logical_id)
 const gchar *
 fu_device_get_protocol (FuDevice *self)
 {
-	FuDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
 	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_DEVICE (self), NULL);
-	return priv->protocol;
+	return fwupd_device_get_protocol (FWUPD_DEVICE (self));
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1510,10 +1501,8 @@ fu_device_get_protocol (FuDevice *self)
 void
 fu_device_set_protocol (FuDevice *self, const gchar *protocol)
 {
-	FuDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
 	g_return_if_fail (FU_IS_DEVICE (self));
-	g_free (priv->protocol);
-	priv->protocol = g_strdup (protocol);
+	fwupd_device_set_protocol (FWUPD_DEVICE (self), protocol);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1844,8 +1833,6 @@ fu_device_add_string (FuDevice *self, guint idt, GString *str)
 		fu_common_string_append_kv (str, idt + 1, "PhysicalId", priv->physical_id);
 	if (priv->logical_id != NULL)
 		fu_common_string_append_kv (str, idt + 1, "LogicalId", priv->logical_id);
-	if (priv->protocol != NULL)
-		fu_common_string_append_kv (str, idt + 1, "Protocol", priv->protocol);
 	if (priv->size_min > 0) {
 		g_autofree gchar *sz = g_strdup_printf ("%" G_GUINT64_FORMAT, priv->size_min);
 		fu_common_string_append_kv (str, idt + 1, "FirmwareSizeMin", sz);
@@ -2573,8 +2560,6 @@ fu_device_incorporate (FuDevice *self, FuDevice *donor)
 		fu_device_set_physical_id (self, priv_donor->physical_id);
 	if (priv->logical_id == NULL && priv_donor->logical_id != NULL)
 		fu_device_set_logical_id (self, priv_donor->logical_id);
-	if (priv->protocol == NULL && priv_donor->protocol != NULL)
-		fu_device_set_protocol (self, priv_donor->protocol);
 	if (priv->quirks == NULL)
 		fu_device_set_quirks (self, fu_device_get_quirks (donor));
 	g_rw_lock_reader_lock (&priv_donor->parent_guids_mutex);
@@ -2676,11 +2661,6 @@ fu_device_class_init (FuDeviceClass *klass)
 				     G_PARAM_STATIC_NAME);
 	g_object_class_install_property (object_class, PROP_LOGICAL_ID, pspec);
 
-	pspec = g_param_spec_string ("protocol", NULL, NULL, NULL,
-				     G_PARAM_READWRITE |
-				     G_PARAM_STATIC_NAME);
-	g_object_class_install_property (object_class, PROP_PROTOCOL, pspec);
-
 	pspec = g_param_spec_uint ("progress", NULL, NULL,
 				   0, 100, 0,
 				   G_PARAM_READWRITE |
@@ -2739,7 +2719,6 @@ fu_device_finalize (GObject *object)
 	g_free (priv->equivalent_id);
 	g_free (priv->physical_id);
 	g_free (priv->logical_id);
-	g_free (priv->protocol);
 
 	G_OBJECT_CLASS (fu_device_parent_class)->finalize (object);
 }